South Korean military spokesman Roh Jae-cheon said the latest launch showed the North "likely wanted to show off its ability to precisely target a large warship" after recent military drills involving US aircraft carriers and South Korean troops.

"By testing different types of missiles, North Korea also appears to be aiming to secure the upper hand in relations with South Korea and the United States," he told reporters.

So how is the new South Korean government of President Moon Jae-in responding to these escalating threats? Well, Moon campaigned on a platform of appeasement towards North Korea - and that's what he's going to deliver:

South Korea has suspended the deployment of an American anti-missile shield that was intended to guard against North Korean weapons but had caused a rift with China.

President Moon Jae-in will not withdraw two launchers and other equipment already deployed but “those that have yet to be deployed will have to wait”, a spokesman said.

The suspension creates uncertainty about the future of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which the US started installing before Mr Moon, a liberal, was elected last month.

He had campaigned on a promise to review the system but many observers doubted that he would cancel it as Pyongyang increased the pace of its ballistic missile tests....

The delay is another sign of differences between South Korea and its ally, the US, before a meeting between Mr Moon and President Trump this month. Their predecessors, Park Geun-hye and Barack Obama, agreed to roll out the “purely defensive system” to shoot down ballistic missiles in their final phase. China opposed THAAD, fearing that its powerful radar could reach into its territory.....

Pyongyang has spurned the new administration’s push to restart cultural exchanges. South Korea approved 15 requests by aid and religious groups for contact with North Korea, but Kim Jong-un’s regime demanded that Seoul drop support for UN sanctions as a condition for resuming exchanges.